Upper School September 18, 2025
Upper School September 18, 2025
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Friday, Sept. 19
👕 UCC spirit wear dress day
👟 Terry Fox Run
Monday, Sept. 22
☕ Year 8 Parent coffee morning,
8:30 a.m. Foster Hewitt Foundation Lounge (Wilder Arena)
Year 8–10 ISA testing, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 24
🕓 Student late start
Thursday, Sept. 25
Year 8–10 ISA testing, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 26
👕 UCC spirit wear dress day
Upper School Leadership Team
The Upper School community is in the swing of things and excitement is in the air as fall co-curriculars have come to life. Students and colleagues participated in the first Fun Friday activities of the year, sessions aimed at developing wellbeing through creativity, action and connection, and included events such as a UCC scavenger hunt, Gaga Ball, tennis, frisbee, bracelet making and Lego and design.
Our Principal’s Assembly on Monday featured a special Terry Fox speaker. Introduced by our Service Steward, who also reflected on their personal understanding of service as "stepping beyond yourself to make a difference in the lives of others,” Terry Fox School Run Ambassador David Huzyk spoke about Terry’s journey and his message of hope, resilience and determination. Tomorrow, the whole school will take part in the Terry Fox Run, followed by a BBQ lunch. This tradition brings our community together to celebrate Terry Fox’s inspiring legacy while strengthening school spirit and connections across all grades. We look forward to a meaningful and enjoyable day for everyone.
For the 2025–26 academic year, UCC has partnered with ALIVE Outdoors, our Norval Team, and AdventureWorks, to deliver an exciting week of camp programming for students in Years 8–11, scheduled from Tuesday, Oct. 14 to Friday, Oct. 17.
Important reminders:
A reminder to please complete the WWB consent and information forms. These forms include the ALIVE Outdoors letter to parents, a risk waiver and indemnity agreement, and a student health information form. You can find the form by clicking on the yellow "Forms" banner at the top of Bluenet or by going to the ‘Files and Forms’ section.
As this is a school program, all students are expected to attend. If your child was unable to participate due to medical reasons or a mandatory prior commitment, please note that the deadline to notify us (Sept. 12) has now passed.
Please note:
A non-refundable deposit of $575 will be billed to Year 8-11 student accounts on the week of Sept. 15.
The balance of the program fees (approximately $575) will be billed after the trip concludes.
ALIVE Outdoors works with well-established camps familiar to UCC, including Camp Timberlane (for Years 8 and 11) and Camp Wanakita (for Year 10). Meanwhile, the Norval Team and AdventureWorks will deliver exciting programming for Year 9 students at Olympia Sports Camp.
Please be aware that there will be no alternative programming on campus during The Week Without Bells as the faculty will also be at the various camps.
Please note that families currently receiving financial assistance for the 2025-26 academic year will receive prorated assistance for this program fee.
Kind regards,
Joe Smith, Gillan Levene and Damion Walker
Assistant Heads, Upper School
Dear UCC families,
This year, students in Years 3 through 10 will write the International Schools’ Assessment (ISA) test.
Please note there has been an update to our ISA testing schedule. This standardized test will be administered to Year 8-10 students will write on Monday, Sept. 22 and Thursday, Sept. 25 at 1:30 p.m.
The ISA is based on the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) frameworks for reading, writing and mathematical literacy. The aim is to gather baseline information for students as a cohort to assist faculty as they consider instructional strategies that can be used to support learning. Regular ISA administration allows us to observe cohort growth and progress over time, inform ongoing improvements to teaching and learning, and compare UCC’s performance internationally.
The ISA will be administered through the ISA online portal in your student’s classroom by their teacher and in collaboration with the Wernham West Centre for Learning. Please refrain from scheduling appointments or other absences during the period of ISA administration. No make-up testing is available due to the test’s confidential nature. Testing can only be administered at the school.
It’s important to note that no preparation is required ahead of writing the test. It's meant to capture a snapshot of student skills and does not form any part of report card grades. The information gathered is for internal use only by faculty and administrators to inform teaching and learning at the College. ISA’s privacy statement is available here. We will work with the boys to ensure this is a positive experience. Families can assist by reinforcing that message and ensuring students are well-rested on testing mornings.
Should you have any questions, please contact Liz Kennedy, Director of the Wernham West Centre for Learning and Student Services.
Yours sincerely,
Liz Kennedy
Director, Wernham West Centre for Learning and Student Services
Julia Kinnear
Vice-Principal, Learning and Academic Innovation
Please click here to view the first few weeks of the assessment calendar.
Please click here to view the first few weeks of the assessment calendar.
Please click here to read information on the MYP assessment calendar for 2025–26.
Prize Day recognizes students currently in Years 9 through 12 and is based on their academic results for the 2024–25 academic school year. Prizes will be announced on Prize Day which is Tuesday Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.
If your student is an award recipient, you received an invitation via email earlier this week. Student award recipients were notified earlier this week as well and will receive further details in the coming weeks. Please note that the dress code is First Dress.
In addition to subject-specific prizes, students will be recognized for an Academic Tie (top five per cent of their class), Principal’s List (top ten per cent of their class), and overall General Proficiency.
To earn General Proficiency the following applies:
Diploma Programme — All 6s or 7s and an A in ToK
Middle Years Programme — All 6s or 7s
If you have any questions, please email UCC Registrar, Leigh Berndsen.
Tomorrow morning, Friday, Sept. 19, UCC will celebrate our 25th annual Terry Fox school run!
We are proud to carry forward Terry’s dream of a world without cancer, and we invite you to join us by donating online. Our Upper School fundraising goal is for each student to donate $10. Please give as you are able here:
All Students should wear their house colours (athletic wear), running shoes and bring a water bottle.
A special assembly will occur immediately after regular Period 1, followed by a house competition 5 km run and our school-wide fun-run with our Prep school buddies.
The morning run will be capped off with a free BBQ burger lunch for all Upper School students on the Oval (UDH will not serve lunch that day, LDH will have limited offerings).
The Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic and parking from 9 a.m. to noon on this day.
Thank you in advance for joining us in supporting cancer research and continuing Terry’s legacy!
Horizons is a program that partners UCC students with students from schools in priority neighbourhoods to provide mutually beneficial curricular and co-curricular learning experiences. Each year a number of opportunities are available such as Learn to Swim, Robotics, and instrumental music. UCC students are encouraged to develop their leadership skills and consider others’ lived experiences while coaching and facilitating learning through their participation.
A-Day is when we begin collecting gently used hockey sticks, skates, and helmets to support the Learn to Skate/Hockey Skills program that runs on Saturdays through the winter. The collection box is set up on the second floor of the Wilder Arena and every donation is appreciated! If you have any questions, please contact Jyoti Sehgal or Elaine Ticzon.
The Language and Literature Department is excited to announce that our Year 8 students will be attending a live performance of Shakespeare’s Macbeth at the Avon Theatre at the Stratford Festival on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
This field trip will provide an incredible opportunity to experience one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies performed by world-class actors. Macbeth is a central text in our Year 8 curriculum. Seeing the play on stage will deepen students’ understanding and enrich their classroom learning.
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. to approximately 6:30 p.m.
Location: Stratford Festival, Avon Theatre, Stratford, Ontario
Transportation via Coach Bus
Cost: $65 (permission and payment required)
Lunch: Students are invited to bring money to enjoy one of the many wonderful restaurants in downtown Stratford.
We strongly recommend all students attend, as this experience will be academically advantageous and memorable.
Please complete the Macbeth permission form. Payment will be billed to your student account.
The Language and Literature Year 8 Team
Matthew Tong (Year 12) and Lincoln Dugas-Nishisato (Year 11) are proud to be bringing the Covenant House Sleep Out to UCC on Friday, Oct. 3.
Covenant House is Canada’s largest charity supporting youth experiencing homelessness, providing shelter, education, and healthcare to thousands of young people in need.
Student volunteers will spend the night outdoors on the UCC oval to raise funds for Covenant House and gain insight into the challenges faced by homeless youth. Teacher supervision will be provided, and mattresses will be supplied by Matthew’s Bags to Beds initiative.
Each student will earn 12 service hours and will seek donations from family and friends in support of this important cause.
If your child is interested in participating, they can sign up using this link or QR Code.
For any questions, please contact Matthew or Lincoln. Thank you!
Parents, please remind your Year 12 students that they have two opportunities to get fitted for grad rings at school.
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Parent representatives will be in the Upper School foyer both days to assist with sizing. Please note: this is for ring sizing only. All grad ring orders must be placed online.
Lost-and-found items are currently on display outside the Lower Dining Hall (turn right as you exit the basement doors). But only until 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26.
Four tables, and one large rolling bin, are filled with items that were cleared from House lockers back in June. Students have already been asked to check for lost items. This is the final opportunity to claim belongings.
After Sept. 26, reusable UCC uniforms will be donated to TUBS, and all remaining items will be given to charity.
The UCC Parents’ Organization is once again hosting year-level Welcome Back Parent Coffee Mornings.
Please join us in the Foster Hewitt Foundation Lounge (second floor in the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex) from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., for coffee, tea and snacks. You’ll have the opportunity to meet new parents in your son’s year, and catch up with those you already know.
Please RSVP using the links below:
Year 8, Monday, Sept. 22 – RSVP here
Year 10, Monday, Sept. 29 – RSVP here
Year 11, Tuesday, Sept. 30 – RSVP here
Year 9, Tuesday, Oct. 7 – RSVP here
We look forward to seeing you there!